Hunkemöller
Redwood Capital Management · Netherlands
Hunkemöller is a Dutch lingerie retailer that traces its origins to a corset shop opened in Amsterdam in 1886. After passing through several private equity owners, it has been solely owned by the US investment firm Redwood Capital Management since March 2025. It is one of Europe's leading lingerie retailers, selling affordable fashion lingerie through its own stores and online.
| Founded | 1886, Amsterdam |
|---|---|
| Owner | Redwood Capital Management (since 2025) |
| Headquarters | Hilversum, Netherlands |
| Segment | Fashion lingerie retail |
| Previous owners | Maxeda, PAI Partners, Carlyle, Parcom and Opportunity Partners |
| Website | hunkemoller.com |
What is Hunkemöller?
Hunkemöller is a Dutch retailer and brand of lingerie, nightwear, swimwear and sportswear. It describes itself as a fast fashion lingerie company, offering frequently changing collections at affordable prices. The business is vertically integrated, designing its own products and selling them mainly through its own stores and e-commerce.
History
The company began in 1886 as a specialty corset shop in Amsterdam. It later became part of the Dutch retail group Maxeda. PAI Partners took over at the end of 2010, and The Carlyle Group acquired the business in early 2016. In 2022 Carlyle sold control but kept a minority stake.
According to FashionUnited, investment firms Parcom and Opportunity Partners held the company for about three years before Redwood Capital Management, based in New York and Miami, became its sole owner in March 2025. Brian Grevy was chief executive at the time of the change.
Products and positioning
Hunkemöller targets young, fashion conscious women at accessible prices. Its assortment covers:
- Bras, briefs and lingerie sets
- Nightwear and loungewear
- Swimwear
- Sportswear under the HKMX line
Business model and distribution
Hunkemöller operates a large network of own stores across Europe, complemented by franchise partners in some markets and a substantial e-commerce business. Its speed and in-house design are key to the model. In 2022 the German consumer organisation Verbraucherzentrale Rheinland-Pfalz took legal action over sustainability claims, an example of growing scrutiny of green marketing in fashion.
Why it matters
Hunkemöller is one of the largest specialist lingerie retailers in Europe and a direct competitor to Etam, Intimissimi and Tezenis. Its repeated changes of ownership reflect both the attraction and the financial pressure of store based fashion retail, and its next phase under Redwood will show whether a European lingerie chain can grow again under US ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Hunkemöller?
Since March 2025 Hunkemöller has been solely owned by Redwood Capital Management, a US investment firm. Previous owners included PAI Partners, The Carlyle Group and investors Parcom and Opportunity Partners.
Where is Hunkemöller from?
Hunkemöller is a Dutch company. It started as a corset shop in Amsterdam in 1886 and is now one of Europe's largest lingerie retailers.